FAQ

What is a Flow Trail?   It is a single-track bike-only, one-way downhill trail with banked turns and berms that zig-zags down the hill. This video shows several riders descending the Endor flow trail in Fairfax which would have similar slopes to the Wildcat Flow Trail.  The goal of a flow trail is not to attain high speed but to develop a rhythm and flow much like that felt by by a downhill skier.  Descending a well designed flow trail requires little to  no pedaling or braking. The modest downhill slope (5-7 degrees) combined with the frequent curves and berms restrain a bike to far slower speeds than would be attained on a trail that went straight down the same hill.  Bike speed will vary depending on the design of the flow trail and the skill of the rider but most riders would not exceed 15 mph on the Wildcat Flow Trail.    The basis for this statement is documented in the section of this website entitled "Response to Critics".  

Who is behind this effort?  The trail is the brainchild of a head coach of a local school mountain biking team that is a member of the National Interscholastic Cycling Association (NICA). Advocacy efforts are being lead by a leadership team consisting of several other local mountain bike enthusiasts who have worked on improving trail access in the Bay Area for years.   

What is the history of this project?  

1. We proposed the idea to EBRPD in December 2020.  
2. EBRPD had several departments do a preliminary look at our proposed site.  As a result they moved the trail about 1/2 mile further north to avoid an environmentally sensitive area.  
3. EBRPD hired Nomad Ecology in early 2022 to do a preliminary survey of the site to identify possible impacts on the local wildlife and biota.  The study found no major show-stoppers and is found here.  
4. In 2023 EBRPD contracted an expert trail builder to do a preliminary design of the trail which is summarized here. Basically the trail would be about 1.5 miles long and drop about 700 feet.   
5. In 2024 EBRPD hired a CEQA consultant to review all aspects of the trail including impacts on the environment, other users, etc., and determine if deeper study was needed on any of these aspects. Results are shown here. The EBRPD has decided to go forward with an Environmental Impact Review (EIR) with target completion of Spring 2026.  

EBRPD maintains a web site about the project here.  

Would the flow trail adversely impact the local environment including tarplants and whip snakes?  It is important to note that the flow trail would run adjacent to the Mezue trail, a ranch road which has been in existence for decades.  According to the Nomad Ecology report (here),  the area is characterized by grassland that has been heavily grazed for decades and is composed largely of non-native grasses. While the area is the potential home for several special status species such as the whipsnake and tarplant none of these species have been observed near the proposed site.  Furthermore the trail is surrounded by thousands of acres of similar habitat so clearly the population of these special species is not being constrained by limitations on available habitat.  

Who would build and maintain the flow trail?  Because the proposed trail would be on EBRPD land, construction and maintenance would be controlled by the EBRPD. We hope that EBRPD would allow the public to help build and maintain the trail under EBRPD oversight much as is done with the trails at Crockett Hills Regional Park.

How can I support this effort?  Sign the petition here and get your friends to sign it!  The broader the support we can show for the trail the better the chances the EBRPD will approve it. Also, write an email to the EBRPD Board.  Directions can be found here.  Finally, EBRPD will host a number of public meetings over the next 6 months as part of the CEQA process.  Please try to attend those to show your support.  We'll post the dates of these meetings on our home page when they are announced.  Once EBRPD is proceeding towards construction we will mount a fund-raising campaign to supplement funding we have obtained from an anonymous private donor.